DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1755#0141
Sa^
100
NUMISMATIC HISTORY OF
THE TLAIXS OF NEME.V.
temple of Juno and the games of Nemea as the peculiar glories and ornaments
of her own soil,—-while the forms of the tutelary Dioscuri appeared on the
coins of Laconia, and Elis displayed her national cognizance and insignia by
appealing to her popular solemnity in honour of the Olympian Jove, these
several States never united together in any such expression of their common
sympathy among themselves, or of their social attachment—either to the soil of
the Peloponnesus as their common country, or to one another as joint members
of the same national family. They never emblazoned their union in any such
device, so long as they were enabled to do so from the spontaneous dictates of
civil freedom and unfettered choice. They were not combined until they were
conquered ! It was left for Eome to unite the States of Greece. The first coin
which expressed the feelings of amity and relationship which a community of soil,
sea, and sky seemed likely to inspire in the minds of those who shared them, was
struck under the auspices of the Roman Consul, Titus Quintius Flamininus.
The absence of union alluded to was the main cause which led to this sub-
version,—a result for which it would otherwise have appeared difficult to assign
any adequate reason. Placed in a central position between Asia and Italy,
admirably adapted for facilitating the communication between them, washed on
three sides by a frequented sea, not ill supplied with harbours for the reception
of shipping such as were used in the commerce of those days, and with
100
NUMISMATIC HISTORY OF
THE TLAIXS OF NEME.V.
temple of Juno and the games of Nemea as the peculiar glories and ornaments
of her own soil,—-while the forms of the tutelary Dioscuri appeared on the
coins of Laconia, and Elis displayed her national cognizance and insignia by
appealing to her popular solemnity in honour of the Olympian Jove, these
several States never united together in any such expression of their common
sympathy among themselves, or of their social attachment—either to the soil of
the Peloponnesus as their common country, or to one another as joint members
of the same national family. They never emblazoned their union in any such
device, so long as they were enabled to do so from the spontaneous dictates of
civil freedom and unfettered choice. They were not combined until they were
conquered ! It was left for Eome to unite the States of Greece. The first coin
which expressed the feelings of amity and relationship which a community of soil,
sea, and sky seemed likely to inspire in the minds of those who shared them, was
struck under the auspices of the Roman Consul, Titus Quintius Flamininus.
The absence of union alluded to was the main cause which led to this sub-
version,—a result for which it would otherwise have appeared difficult to assign
any adequate reason. Placed in a central position between Asia and Italy,
admirably adapted for facilitating the communication between them, washed on
three sides by a frequented sea, not ill supplied with harbours for the reception
of shipping such as were used in the commerce of those days, and with